"How to Save a Life" is a song by American alternative rock band the Fray, released in March 26, 2006 as the second single from their debut studio album of the same name.

It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2007, but lost to "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

According to lead singer Isaac Slade, the song was composed and influenced by his experience while working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teenagers: One of the youngsters I was paired up with was a musician.

As Slade says in an interview, the boy's friends and family approached him by saying, "Quit taking drugs and cutting yourself or I won't talk to you again," but all he needed was some support.

The response has been overwhelming.During an interview in Sauce, Bob Wilson asked Slade, "'How to Save a Life' was apparently inspired by an experience you had as a mentor to a boy who had a drug problem.

Slade answered:[5] Well there's a group home here in Denver called Shelterwood, and it takes in teens who've had a tough time; their parents don't want to send them to jail, but they can't keep track of them themselves... A friend of mine was actually the president for that particular school, so he asked Joe and I to come up for one of their weekend retreats...

"How to Save a Life" was a top five hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Due to an early leak by BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom, where it was the band's debut single, the song was released in the territory five weeks earlier than planned.

It eventually peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart on April 8 and became Britain's eleventh biggest-selling song of 2007.

The song only stayed at the top spot for a week but sales still proved strong after it fell from number 1.

[12] The original music video, which premiered on VH1 on September 12, 2006, featured the recurring themes of light and stopped time.

The song was first featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, after Alexandra Patsavas, the music supervisor for the show, saw the band perform in Los Angeles.

It was also used in the show's musical episode when Callie was having surgery to save her and baby Sofia's life.

[71] In 2023, the song was covered by country music singer-songwriter Wyatt Flores and was later included on his 2024 extended play Half Life.